A salacious love triangle has left an 80-year-old in financial ruin after her husband spent a fortune funding the career of his Swedish lover, an aspiring pop singer 51 years his junior.

Former English Rotary Club president Peter Lawrence, 78, scammed his partner of 20 years out of more than $332,000 and gave it to his singer girlfriend Tia Mehari, 27 - who Mr Lawrence affectionately called 'Nefe' after the Egyptian queen Nefertiti.

Sheila Losack, 80, was plunged into financial ruin after Mr Lawrence pawned about 60 items of her jewellery and persuaded her to re-mortgage her flat twice.

Throughout the entirety of his relationship with Ms Losack, Mr Lawrence was also married.

The court heard that in addition to the money he stole from Ms Losack, he also sent Miss Mehari more than $100,000 from the sale of his former matrimonial home and more than $20,000 he had borrowed from his sister.

Prosecutor Claire Robinson told the court that Mr Lawrence has not repaid any of the stolen funds to Ms Losack.

"When she confronted him over the broken jewellery box and missing valuables Lawrence became angry and told her he needed the money and she should: 'Get over it'," The Telegraph have quoted Ms Robinson as saying.